Here I am, an hour before we leave for the airport, finally finding the time to make my premier as a blogger. I’ve never publicized my thoughts, or anything like this before so I am going to have to ask you to bear with me through the awkward stage. Speaking of awkward, I am typing this on a keyboard that is about 7 inches wide. Thank you Jesus for my MacBook back home that I took for granted every day. Alright, time to get serious. When I left Chicago on Monday I had no idea what to expect out of this week. Honestly, I had a lot of selfish...

Eventually we all choose between what’s right and what’s easy. This is so true and are now the words that my team members wear on their shirts. The easiest thing to do is nothing, but we are ALL called to follow the Great Commission. Matthew 28:16-20 “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authroity in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of...

Before I begin, I want to say that this first blog entry won’t be perfect or a masterpiece but it’s real and it’s from the heart. I have learned so much about who God is through others here at training camp. The first night of our training camp teams had to experience what homeless life was like. During our journey my team came upon a man walking by himself. The first thing that struck me was the smile on this man’s face. As we stood shivering and began talking to this man I felt as if God was trying to talk to me. The man began saying how, although it was 1:30 in...

  January 25, 2010 Day 1 Today begins one of the biggest days of my entire life. First, I want to start this journal off by sharing my background with all of you and how I came to the point of where I am right now. About a year and a half ago my life was a complete wreck. Even after being raised in church, I had gotten to a point where I turned my back to the truth and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. It was in the summer of 2008 when the sinful desires of my life simply did not fill the gap in my heart anymore. I will spare the details of my testimony but ins short I use to be...

Over the past few weeks we have witnessed the power of a story, and how it can bring hope to a hopeless situation. Diana is a 13 year-old girl from Mombasa who we met at Bethany Kids in the hospital one Wednesday while praying with patients. Diana had been struggling with sickness since October 2008. In August of 2009 Diana was diagnosed with Hydro-Cephalous, fluid trapped in the brain which can cause severe brain damage. Within three weeks she had three surgeries attempting to drain the infectious fluid in her brain, but nothing was working. Even after going home for two weeks, she had...

Several days spent with the Masaai Tribe was an amazing experience, and I’m sure one of the most memorable weeks of the entire trip. Sleeping in a bat infested church building in the middle of the most interior part of Kenya and learning how to use the bathroom in a hole in the ground wasn’t exactly pleasant; but the breath taking moments when God was clearly present made up for all the uncomfortable living conditions. Mornings spent on top of a huge bolder to watch the sunrise opened my eyes to the beauty in the details of the African bush that are hidden amongst the monotonous...